Brunel University London joins pioneering ProtectED student safety scheme

Brunel University London is the latest higher education institution to join a pioneering scheme that aims to improve student safety, security and wellbeing standards across the sector.

The university, which has 14,000 students, has joined ProtectED, the first national accreditation scheme of its kind.

Developed at the University of Salford, ProtectED aims to make it easier for prospective students and their parents to identify UK universities which prioritise welfare.

The initiative requires members to have in place measures to support university security, student wellbeing, safety and mental health, and international student welfare.

To achieve accreditation under the ProtectED code of practice, member universities must meet a recognised standard which is validated by independent experts and assessors.

The first 12 universities to join the scheme become founder members and will be at the forefront of efforts to raise standards across the sector.

Brunel University London joins the University of Central Lancashire and Coventry University among recent founder members of ProtectED.

Lesley O’Keeffe, director of student services at Brunel University London, said: “We are excited to be part of ProtectED as the scheme closely matches with our own priorities – putting student safety, security and wellbeing at the heart of what we do.

“ProtectED will provide us with a framework to demonstrate our commitment to this important aspect of student life, providing reassurance to our current and future students.”

ProtectED director Andrew Wootton, pictured, said: “We are delighted to welcome Brunel University London as a founder member of ProtectED and applaud its approach in prioritising student safety, security and wellbeing.

“Working in partnership, our founder member institutions will be instrumental in helping to drive positive change at a time when the higher education sector is under mounting pressure to find effective responses to some persistent concerns, particularly student mental health and sexual violence.

“It is pleasing to see Brunel University London signal its commitment to ensuring students are supported throughout their university journey and given the opportunity to thrive and succeed.”

ProtectED is a not-for-profit community interest company and membership organisation formed following a four-year research initiative by the Design Against Crime Solution Centre at the University of Salford.